Majoring in Anthropology

Anthropology is the study of humans as biological and cultural beings. Its subfields include archaeology, biological anthropology, cultural anthropology, and linguistics. Students majoring in anthropology may undertake course work in all four subfields; AMEC offers concentrations in archaeology, cultural anthropology, and biological anthropology. For an excellent brief survey of our program, faculty, and resources, please see our Undergraduate Brochure.

Anthropology is a particularly broad major, designed for students who are preparing for employment with research organizations, museums, for administrative and research positions with state or federal governments (such as state highway departments and the National Park Service), and with human service agencies or organizations that involve work in foreign countries, among other areas. The undergraduate major in anthropology also prepares students for graduate training in professional fields such as planning, law, and public administration, as well as for further graduate training in anthropology leading to college and university teaching and research positions. http://www.aaanet.org/resources/students/

Students are eligible for membership in the Alpha chapter of Lambda Alpha, the national anthropology honorary. See our page on Lambda Alpha for more information.

The Anthropology faculty and staff are housed in the Cobb Institute of Archaeology. There are other archaeologists in the Institute, including specialists in the Middle East and Southeastern U.S. Facilities include archaeology laboratories, darkroom, drafting room, and the Lois Dowdle Cobb Museum of Archaeology. The museum houses artifacts from Mississippi and the Middle East, including replicas of large-scale relief sculptures and statues from Assyria and Egypt.

Anthropology may be used as a minor field of study at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Twelve (12) hours (9 hours must be 3000 level or above), in addition to AN 1103, constitute an undergraduate minor. Requirements for anthropology minor at the graduate level will be established in consultation with the anthropology major advisors. Courses taken for an undergraduate or graduate minor must be taught by anthropology faculty.